title: Rigid DNA beams for high-resolution single-molecule mechanics.
abstract: Bridging the gap: Rigid DNA linkers (blue, see picture) between microspheres (green) for high-resolution single-molecule mechanical experiments were constructed using DNA origami. The resulting DNA helical bundles greatly reduce the noise generated in studies of conformation changes using optical tweezers and were applied to study small DNA secondary structures.
authors.affiliation: Physik Department, Walter Schottky Institute, Technische Universität München, Am Coulombwall 4a, 85748 Garching near Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Emanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pfitzner
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wachauf
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kilchherr
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pelz
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rief
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dietz
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008863:Microspheres; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D052898:Optical Tweezers
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA nanotechnology; DNA structures; biophysics; force spectroscopy; single-molecule experiments